So here’s the problem: there’s a pandemic going on outside, the school holidays are coming up, and if you aren’t already, you’re keeping the kids indoors. That means there’s going to be a lot of boredom going on at home and not a whole lot to keep your kids preoccupied, beyond video games, lunch and books. Solution? Allow me to introduce to you: daycare by streaming.
It can do wonders if your kids are preoccupied with something mentally stimulating, and it can do wonders for you if it’s actually good content they’re watching – if you’re working from home, the last thing you want in the background is some loud and obnoxious noise coming from the TV.
We’ve put together a list of some of the best cartoons and shows to watch right now that, really, the whole family can enjoy. Make sure the kids also get some outdoor time in the garden (if you have one), but when they’re stuck indoors, they’ll need something good to watch.
But first, make sure you’ve got a reliable internet connection
The last thing you want to have happen is bored kids while you’re trying to work, and that can be avoided by having an internet connection that isn’t going to impact too heavily on each other when you’re all connected.
Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50) plansThe following table shows a selection of published unlimited Standard Plus Evening Speed (NBN 50) plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner. Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plansThe following table shows a selection of published unlimited Premium Evening Speed (NBN 100) plans on Canstar Blue’s database, listed in order of standard monthly cost, from the lowest to highest, and then by alphabetical order of provider. Use our comparison tool to see plans from a range of other providers. This is a selection of products with links to a referral partner. |
For the whole family: Disney+
Disney+ is the perfect streaming service when trying to satisfy your whole family, be it through the day or for movie night.
Don’t have a Disney+ account yet? There are two plan options to choose from – a monthly subscription at $8.99 per month, or prepay for a year at $89.99 and save on the monthly cost. Both plans include the same features, with unlimited downloads and the ability to stream on up to four screens at the same time. This table includes links to a referral partner.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month or year | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $8.99 over one month |
4 | $8.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
|
min. cost $89.99 over one year |
4 | $89.99 |
Get DealCanstar Blue receives a commission for sign-ups through Disney+ * |
 |
^^View important information | |||
Sports for the whole family
Bad news – COVID-19 means a lot of sport has been cancelled, and attending those sporting games – bad idea. We’ve got some solutions to keep your more sporty family members preoccupied over the period.
Firstly, there’s a bunch of great sports documentaries to check out over on Amazon Prime. There’s also a bunch of home workout videos you can check out over on YouTube – we did a great article on that you can check out here. But if you want some great live sport, you should check out Kayo Sports.
Love streaming? Love sports? Kayo is a new streaming platform that provides access to a wealth of sports, from basketball to cricket, motorsports and soccer, plus great sports documentaries. Click ‘go to site’ for more details.
| Brand | Subscription Type | No. of Screens/same time viewing | Advertised Cost^^/month | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
min. cost $25Â over 1 month |
2 | $25 |
Go To Site |
|
min. cost $35Â over 1 month |
3 | $35 |
Go To Site |
|
^^View important information | |||
To keep the whole family entertained, we also recommend watching WWE, which Kayo Sports offers in its subscription! For a wrestling show that we all squint our eyes at and say “it’s real!” there’s a lot of cool plot and insane action to just sit down and watch.
The best shows right now
Take it from me, one of the most annoying things you can do with your life is watch a TV show that is totally underwhelming and gives you no enjoyment. With that said, these shows would be perfect for your kids, and for when you look over or walk into the room, they won’t be too annoying.
The World According To Jeff Goldblum, Disney+
One of the underrated gems of the Disney+ library, The World According To Jeff Goldblum gives you all the Goldblum content you didn’t know that you needed. Our old mate Jeff delves into all the topics your kids might be interested in and might want to get into – gaming, makeup, biking; he knows no bounds. You can watch it all on Disney+!
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Disney+
Originally cancelled in 2014, Star Wars: The Clone Wars took the world by storm with its six seasons filling in the gaps between Episode II and Episode III of the Star Wars saga, following the events of the war between The Republic and The Separatists.
The show doesn’t have clear plot arcs bridging episodes chronologically with any semblance of order, but that really only means you can go into any episode and sort of switch off, letting the show take control and do whatever it wants to. Sometimes it’ll follow a band of characters, sometimes it’ll follow just one. It’s a great watch, and a must-see for any Star Wars nerd.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Netflix
Alright, you know it, you love it, but here me out. Netflix has the first six seasons. That’s 130 episodes of episodes – 3,900 minutes of lightweight entertainment. It’s easy for anyone to lose themselves in this show, and for older kids it’d be a great thing to get them into.
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Netflix
Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts is a fantastic show for the whole family that’s bound to hold your kids’ attention, right up until they finish bingeing it. Its art-style is short of brilliant, and its characters and plot are really well done for a kids show.
The show follows Kipo, a young girl who has lived her entire life under the surface of the Earth, emerging for the first time into a post-apocalyptic world where frogs are gangsters and cats are lumberjacks. It sounds crazy, but believe me, it is good.
You can stream the entire first season on Netflix.
Infinity Train, Stan
Infinity Train is just too much fun – and with episodes just under 20 minutes each, not only is it an easy show to watch, but it’s also easy to put down.
This show is a wild ride of brilliance. Following a unique premise of an unstoppable train where every carriage is a new adventure, the show is about Tulip, a young girl just wanting to get to video-game making camp for the school holidays, solving puzzles and making friends along the way. It’s incredibly well drawn and has a lot going on story-wise, and its twisted way of moving from episode to episode through train carriages has a real charm to it.
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